Cruise Maven News: Nieuw Statendam Inaugural Season
Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line’s new Pinnacle Class ship is due for delivery late next year. It’s currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy.
The new ship will be delivered in Venice, Italy on Dec. 1, 2018. After arriving at Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, Italy, Nieuw Statendam will set out on its first cruise on Dec. 5, a 14-day transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. New Statendam will then spend the winter season cruising roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on seven-day Caribbean itineraries. There will also be three-, four- and 10-day Caribbean options.
Transatlantic crossing details
When Nieuw Statendam departs Civitavecchia Dec. 5 on its first cruise, it will spend 14 days crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Fort Lauderdale. After leaving Italy, the ship will call at Cartagena and Málaga, Spain, and Funchal, Madeira. The ship then heads out on a seven day crossing and spend and overnight in Fort Lauderdale before leaving the ship Dec. 19.
Caribbean Cruises – Winter/Spring 2018-19
From December 2018 through April 2019, Nieuw Statendam will spend its inaugural season cruising roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. All Caribbean itineraries include a call at Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private Bahamian island.
The ship’s first Caribbean cruise is a four-day itinerary that visits Half Moon Cay and Key West, Florida onDec. 19. The ship then embarks on a series of seven-day sailings, including a Dec. 23 holiday cruise to Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Half Moon Cay. A Dec. 30, 2018New Year’s cruise visits Half Moon Cay; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico. OnJan. 6, 2019, Ocho Rios is replaced with Montego Bay, Jamaica. On Jan. 13, there’s a seven-day cruise to Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Charlotte Amalie and Half Moon Cay.
An extended 10-day Caribbean cruise departs Jan. 20 to Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, also stopping at Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. There’s a quick three-day getaway from Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 30 and visits Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.
After that, itineraries feature western and eastern Caribbean cruises. The western cruise includes Half Moon Cay, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The eastern itinerary calls at Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay. On March 17, Amber Cove will substitute for Grand Turk.
About Nieuw Statendam
The 99,500-ton ship will be similar to the Koningsdam, and accommodate 2,666 guests. Holland America Line’s first ship to be called Statendam sailed in 1898 and the Nieuw Statendam the sixth Holland America ship with the same name.
